How we research
Every figure on unboxth should be traceable to a primary source and a date. Here is how we get there.
Last updated
Primary sources we rely on
We go to the source that sets the rule or the price, and link it in the article:
- US federal tax: the IRS (irs.gov), including form instructions, publications and the Internal Revenue Bulletin.
- US states: state secretaries of state and their business filing pages, such as the Wyoming Secretary of State.
- Delaware: the Delaware Division of Corporations (corp.delaware.gov) and, for law changes, the Delaware General Assembly.
- Canada: the Canada Revenue Agency and other federal pages on canada.ca, including form guides for T1134 and T1135.
- Australia: the Australian Taxation Office (ato.gov.au) and its legal database.
- Products and services: the vendor's own pricing page, plan terms and documentation, not a reseller or a review site.
When a primary source is silent or unclear, we say so instead of guessing. Reported claims from news outlets or users are labeled as reported.
How we fact-check a page
- Each factual claim (a deadline, a fee, a threshold, a form line) is matched to a primary source.
- Quotes are checked word for word against the source page.
- Numbers in worked examples and calculators are recalculated.
- The page is reviewed by a person before it is published, including drafts prepared with software tools.
How prices are captured
- Date: every price carries the date we checked it, shown as "checked on" or in a note under the table.
- Currency: we record the currency the vendor lists. If the page shows different prices by region, we say which view we saw, for example "viewed from a US browser".
- Conversion: when we convert to USD, CAD or AUD, we name the rate, its source (such as European Central Bank reference rates) and its date. Your bank or card will use its own rate and may add fees.
- Tax: we note whether a price includes sales tax, GST or HST, because many vendors list prices before tax.
How often we update
Time-sensitive pages, such as those with prices, deadlines or penalties, are reviewed at least every 90 days, and sooner when a rule or price changes. When a page changes in a meaningful way, its "updated" date moves and the change is reflected in the text. Errors are handled under our corrections policy.
Where to go next
Our wider standards are in the editorial policy. Unfamiliar term? Try the glossary. Spotted something out of date? Tell us on the contact page.